Dungeon.
The acquaintance with the xenos had dragged on for a long time and had already lasted a couple of days, and now everyone was sitting together around a campfire in a clearing in the eastern part of the Gardens, chatting with each other and enjoying all the benefits of the Noble Phantasm of Semiramis.
That is, food and wine in this place were practically inexhaustible, the Gardens were tended by automated golem servants, and protection was provided by the Warriors of the Dragon's Teeth, simple skeletons with wings and weapons. Usually, all this was powered by Semiramis herself and the Master's mana, but I tweaked the system a bit, powering the Noble Phantasm with the Dungeon itself, but with restrictions, obviously, so that they wouldn't get too lazy.
Of course, most of the attention these days was focused on me, because Lyd and the other xenos leaders were not stingy with words and told every newcomer about my exploits in vivid detail. In a sense, they even overdid it, because every xenos looked at me with almost worshipful admiration, but without any particular attempt to make contact with me, apparently because of the image of me as something unattainable that their leaders had subconsciously created. And this had been going on for the second day in a row.
At the same time, Bell and Liliruca did not remain on the sidelines. The xenos actively communicated with them, marveling at their friendliness and trying to confirm the words of Ray and those who had been outside the Dungeon. Griselda, on the other hand, was mostly by my side, simply observing from the sidelines. Therefore, there were practically no questions for her, because all the attention was focused on me.
And now, sitting on the roof of one of the square buildings of the Gardens, I watched from a distance as two children of Hestia were surrounded on all sides, accompanied by Griselda, who looked puzzled.
- "If you have any questions, go ahead," I smiled and, creating a cup of coffee, took a sip.
- "How is it that you, who are indifferent to this world, have helped them so much? And, as I heard from them, without compensation," she asked. "It's hard for me to understand your thoughts..."
- "Oh?" I chuckled. "I just liked them."
- "So you're playing favorites?"
- "Absolutely right."
- "But that's..."
- "Unfair?" I smiled. "The answer is the same as before. But answer me this, Miss 'Nun with an Indecent Body': is it fair to treat xenos the same as ordinary monsters without a shred of self-awareness?"
- "No," Griselda shook her head. "They are individuals with desires, aspirations, and intelligence. They are pleasant, polite, and... curious... like children. And most of them just want to get to the surface and see the world."
- "Do you know what's stopping them?"
- "I can guess."
- "No, you can't," I shook my finger and, finishing my coffee, lay down on the roof, where I could see the 'night' sky. "It's not adventurers and gods that are stopping them, but the established order. The idea that some people are definitely evil and some are definitely good is deeply ingrained in the subconscious of every person on the surface. There are exceptions, of course, but that doesn't negate the fact itself. And based on this idea, who would risk their life to disprove it, huh?"
Griselda remained silent in response.
- "What am I getting at?" I continued. "Isn't it the same in our world? The church taught that demons must be killed, but in reality, not every demon wants to cause a bloody mess 'just because'."
- "It was justified, as I saw with my own eyes," Griselda retorted. "Yes, the current Lords of Demons are not like their predecessors, but you can't just take and change the established order that was built centuries ago."
- "Of course, and that is why Goetia now rules the Underworld. No one there can contradict him IN PRINCIPLE, and he is very fond of law and order. Our situation is unique in principle, because too many factors contributing to it coincided," I agreed. "All this is a manifestation of the same unfair, because any world is inherently unjust, especially one that presents itself as such. Consequently, only personality and how strong it is to defend one's interests make sense."
I paused and stood up to look at her.
- "And here's another question. What are your interests? What motivates you and gives your life meaning?"
- "It's obvious," she began firmly. "I..."
- "Ah, ah, ah," I waved my finger with a sly smile on my face. "Following the will of the God of the Bible is not enough. That is what you have been led to, not what you have come to on your own."
- "Wh..." Griselda protested. "I myself..."
- "No. Not yourself," I interrupted her again. "Choice. That's what makes a person a person. You didn't have that."
- "And why are you so sure of that?" she narrowed her eyes.
- "Because I saw your soul," I smiled, causing her to raise an eyebrow in surprise. "There, in your soul, where the snow-white cathedral stands, everything makes sense. Perfect righteousness and devotion to the cause. But what's inside?"
- "I don't understand," said Griselda, to which I responded by standing up and heading toward the xenos.
- "Think about my words and keep in mind that I never lie when it comes to such matters."
When I reached them, all eyes instantly focused on me, and the conversations died down, as if I were a terrifying evil commissioner in a black and red uniform from the universe of the same name. Even Bell and Liliruca succumbed to the atmosphere of the crowd, ceasing to make any sounds or movements.
- "Oya? Where did all the fun go? Do I seem so scary to you?" I chuckled, finding a free spot next to the fire.
- "No," Lyd shook his head. "We just don't know how to interact with you after everything you've done for us."
- "I don't see any problem, interact as usual. I don't bite," I shrugged, which didn't have much effect, and looked at the three Xenos leaders. "By the way, what are your plans for the future?"
- "Plans?" Lyd repeated, scratching his chin thoughtfully, then glancing at the xenos. "They haven't changed. We'd like to get to the surface and maybe... settle there... live in peace with those who live there."
- "Don't get me wrong, Romani," Ray quickly added. "We are very grateful to you for what you have done for us, but... when I visited there once... when the sunlight warmed my feathers and the wind with the scent of flowers tickled my nose..."
- "I understand," I nodded and looked at Gros, who had been silent all this time and had not exchanged a single word with Bell, Liliruca, or Griselda. "What do you want? After all, I know you the least."
- "I want the same thing they want, but not completely," he began. "Those who live above... We can't trust them. They are cruel and ruthless bastards who kill us just for fun and money."
- "Gros is talking to Romani," whispered several xenos in surprise, then looked at their comrades sitting behind Gross, as if waiting for their reaction. But the latter did nothing, simply listening to us.
- "Well, you're partly right," I smiled, which surprised the gargoyle. "But trust must be earned, not given. Trusting someone just like that is the height of stupidity that a rational being is capable of."
Gros nodded at these words.
- "But! Not trusting someone and not giving them a chance to earn your trust are two different things," I continued. "Of course, you don't have to listen to me, and that's perfectly fine, but in light of the upcoming events, I would advise you to be a little more open."
- "Upcoming events?" asked Lyd.
- "What do you mean, Mr. Archaman?" Bell inquired.
- "You'll find out the details from someone else when she decides to show herself to you," I replied vaguely, and, standing up, headed for the edge of the Gardens, from where I sensed a familiar aura. "And don't worry, you know her well, as she knows you."
I walked slowly to the cliff, from where I could see twelve flying slabs circling around the Gardens and a striking night view of the eighteenth floor. And there, on one of the spires, sat a small blue dragon, its eyes glowing with a familiar golden light, as did the tattoos on its scales.
- "Did you want to talk about something, Tamait-chan?" I asked cheerfully, and the dragon nodded its tiny head.
- "Two goddesses and their followers have just begun their descent," she began, and I immediately raised an eyebrow. "And they are looking for you."
- "Oh? Me? Now that's interesting," I smiled. "Can you describe them?"
- "Both are short. One has black hair tied in two long ponytails, and the other has red hair tied in one short ponytail. The first smells like fire, and the other smells like a snake."
- "I see," I said, realizing that they were Hestia and Loki.
- "What should I do with them?"
- "Nothing. I'll take care of them myself, don't worry," I chuckled, and a magic circle immediately lit up beneath me.
Well, let's see why they need me...
-0-
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